Statement in solidarity with Venezuela by peace, justice and anti-war campaigners

On March 9 US President Obama signed an executive order declaring "a national emergency with respect to the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by the situation in Venezuela" and imposed a further round of sanctions on the country.

This has been condemned by major regional bodies in Latin America and the Caribbean, governments all over the world and much of global civil society, including campaigners for peace and against war.

Many - including the Governments of Ecuador, Venezuela and Nicaragua - have warned of the danger of the executive order being used to justify a future, possibly military, intervention against Venezuela.

We the undersigned - as leading anti-war, peace and international justice campaigners in Britain - say Venezuela is not a threat to the US or any other country - instead it offers hope. We support the international Obama - Repeal the Executive Order campaign and will continue to oppose both US sanctions and any external military intervention against Venezuela.